Egg, Broiler and Turkey
Quality Assurance Programs
Don Bell, Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension, Riverside; Francine Bradley, PhD, Specialist, Ralph Ernst, PhD, Specialist, Avian Sciences Extension, UC Davis; Douglas Kuney, Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Riverside; Joan Jeffrey, DVM, Veterinary Medicine Extension, Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center (VMTRC), Tulare; Gideon Zeidler, Specialist, Riverside
UC Cooperative Extension continues to play a significant role in developing these Quality Assurance Programs, which have expanded to include gamebird (squab) producers.
During 1994 and 1995 the California egg industry developed a statewide Egg Quality Assurance Program to further reduce the risks of Salmonella, other food-borne pathogens and chemical residues in eggs. The plan provides certification that egg producers and processors conform to known practices that increase the safety of the end product. The program contains 19 Core Components that have been identified as critical areas requiring monitoring or intervention. Certification of participating companies is achieved through successfully completing five training/educational sessions, by submitting a quality assurance plan demonstrating compliance with the Core Components, and through periodic inspection by state district veterinarians.